What is the formula for calculating power factor (PF)?

The formula for calculating power factor (PF) is correctly given as PF = KW/KVA. This formula represents the ratio of real power (measured in kilowatts, KW) to apparent power (measured in kilovolt-amperes, KVA) in an electrical system.

Power factor is a crucial concept in electrical engineering and is used to quantify the efficiency of power usage. A power factor of 1 (or 100%) indicates that all the energy supplied by the source is being used effectively for productive work. Conversely, a lower power factor suggests that some of the electrical power is being wasted, often due to reactive power, which does not contribute to perform useful work but is necessary for maintaining the electric and magnetic fields in the circuit.

This ratio helps in understanding how effectively electrical power is being converted into useful work output. A higher power factor indicates better efficiency and can lead to lower electric bills as many utility companies charge higher rates for lower power factors due to the additional infrastructure needed to supply reactive power.

Other options presented do not accurately represent the relationship needed to calculate power factor. They either mistakenly place KVAR or mix the terms, which do not apply to the conventional definition of power factor. Thus, understanding and applying the